Page 24 of Captivating Anika
He ends the call before I can say anything else.
I’m breaking every speed limit getting to the salon. When I don’t see anything out front, I head around the back where the sight of a couple of police cruisers has my heart skip a beat. Maybe it’s more serious than he led me to believe.
But when I see her step out of the back door moments later, relief courses through me. I don’t even realize I’m calling her name until her head snaps up and her eyes find me.
“Are you okay?” I ask when I get to her, cupping her face with my hands.
“I’m fine,” she states curtly. “My car isn’t.” Then she grabs on to my wrists and pulls on them, but even when I lower my hands she holds on. “What are you doing here?”
“I happened to be in town.”
She makes it clear with a look she’s not buying that answer, so I let my eyes drift over her shoulder to Evans.
“I called him. I figured you’d probably need a ride,” he fesses up.
“He lives in the next state!” she fires at him. “How does that even make sense?”
“Like I said, I happened to be in town. I was on my way to look at a house,” I clarify.
“Hate to break this up, but can we take a look at the car?” Evans suggests.
Anika promptly releases her hold on my arms and follows him. I trail behind and pull out my phone, shooting off a quick text to Bodhi I am running late.
“My audio system is still here,” Anika says, poking her head in after she unlocks her car door.
She immediately backs out again, knocking the back of her head on the frame, and clamping her hand over her mouth and nose.
“Step back,” Evans barks before poking his own head in the car.
I pull Anika back against me, wrapping my arms around her. I can see the detective leaning over the gearshift, appearing to look at something in front of the passenger seat.
Then the smell hits me. Skunk. A ripe one. At least I hope that’s all it is.
“Jesus,” I mutter, pulling Anika a few steps farther back.
“Jackson!” Evans calls out to one of the uniformed officers chatting by one of the patrol cars. “Call for a flatbed truck. I want it towed to the lab.”
“Anika? What’s going on?”
I look up and see Kim standing in front of the apartment door at the top of the stairs.
“Some idiot kids vandalized and broke into my car,” Anika quickly responds as she steps out of my hold. “We’re just waiting for a tow and then Hog’s going to give me a ride home.”
The woman glances from us to Evans, who is standing beside the Mazda.
“You didn’t happen to see anyone, did you?” he asks, looking up at her.
“No, I didn’t see anyone. We had appointments all afternoon and Anika and I walked out together.”
The phone in my pocket starts buzzing and I step aside to answer it.
“How late are you running?”
“Bodhi. Sorry, man. I’m here at?—”
Suddenly Anika is in front of me, eyes wide, shaking her head and waving her hands in my face.
“In town, but I’m hung up for a bit,” I quickly adjust what I was going to say. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”